[Galadriel55]

I keep returning to the thought of the Unexpected Party, especially the meal of thereof. Here is a list of foods mentioned (without repetitions):

tea
cake
beer
seed cake
ale
porter
coffee
buttered scones
red wine
raspberry jam
apple tart
mince pies
cheese
pork pie
salad
eggs
chicken
pickles
biscuit

Now thati's significantly more than seven, but what if you take, f.ex., only the drinks? Then you get tea, beer, ale, porter, coffee, wine - which is the right number. But they don't make much sense with the descriptions.

If the answer is PIES/CAKES, it makes more sense, but there are not enough of them, unless you include the tarts/scones.